In the Twilight Zone of a Full Moon

“There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call ‘The Twilight Zone’.”

Such was one introduction by creator and writer, Rod Serling, at the beginning of his American anthology television series, The Twilight Zone, which ran for five seasons in the early 1960’s. Rod Serling’s creativity in the series mixed fantasy and science fiction, suspense and oftentimes, horror, and usually ending with an unexpected twist.

Using those descriptions…mixed fantasy, science fiction, suspense, horror, unexpected twists….I find myself thinking how these particular adjectives frequently and oddly correlate to and/or describe the behaviors of an Alzheimer’s patient during the time of a full moon, and how these individuals succumb to a twilight zone of their own.

Nonsense? Many people people think the numinous powers of a full moon provoke erratic behaviors. The link between the full moon and highly irregular behaviors was even acknowledged in the 1600’s by Sr. William Hale, a distinguished British physician and medical biographer, as he wrote, “The moon has a great influence in all diseases of the brain, especially dementia.”

The phenomenon is quite debatable, but anyone working with or caregiving for Alzheimer’s patients knows something goes peculiarly awry in the waxing and waning of a lunar effect. Alan M. Beck of Purdue University conducted a longitudinal study to examine the lunar influence and the intensity of behaviors in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. In his research, he examined wandering, anxiety, physical aggression and verbal confrontation. His study concluded that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease did, in fact, exhibit significantly more erratic behaviors during periods of the full moon, and that these behaviors were of greater duration during that time.

The explanation for this erratic behavior/full moon paradox is believed to be linked to the moon’s gravitational pull that produces the earth’s ocean tides. Since 60-70% of the human body is water, then the moon must be responsible for this particular effect on the human body, in a similarly dramatic and rhythmic fashion as the ocean tides. Skeptics like Robert Todd Carroll of The Skeptics Dictionary web site, however, respond and debate this explanation. “Given the minute and bounded mass of fluid contained within the human body, compared to the enormous and free-flowing mass of ocean water, and given the enormous distance to the moon, the lunar pull on the human body is negligible.

Nevertheless, many who deal with Alzheimer’s patients are die-hard believers in the lunar influence and have come to anticipate the unpredictable behaviors in their loved ones during that time. The onset of the “twilight zone” in the wandering, aggression, and mixed fantasy/paranoia behaviors become more intense at the onset of a full moon. Knowing the particular times of these full moons could be very helpful and prepare the caregiver for “things to come,” per se, so that these behaviors could be addressed by redirection, participation in other activities, or perhaps as a last resort, mild medication. It is something to think about and also observe. The dates of the upcoming full moons are January 18th, February 18th, and March 18th. During those days, be specifically mindful of your loved ones’ behavior and assess it.

Rod Sterling talked about the “fifth dimension,” and how traveling to a twilight zone “lies between the pit of a man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge.” Whether the full moon sends an Alzheimer’s individual into that fifth dimension or not, it stands to reason that you could probably draw some conclusion regarding the abnormally erratic behavior of the individual with Alzheimer’s disease during that time.

Unexplained occurrences. Unexpected twists. Mixed fantasy. During a full moon, you may just be watching a live telecast in your own home of “The Twilight Zone.”

--Dana Territo, Director of Services

Music Therapy at Charlie's Place

Music is an important part of the day at Charlie’s Place. After lunch, we retire to the living room for a singalong to familiar tunes from yesteryear. People from the community come periodically to share their musical talents with us. We have dubbed ourselves “Charlie’s Place Glee Club” and give ourselves a rousing round of applause after every song fest. Some of us sing while others clap, sway, hum, dance, or smile. Our dear veterans often stand and salute to our patriotic songs. We find that music, after a busy morning and tasty lunch, is a great way to relax.

Marcia L. Kirk
Respite Center Coordinator Assistant

Hydration for Alzheimer’s Patients

Caregivers should be mindful of hydration when dealing with their loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease. Since your loved one has Alzheimer’s, he/she may forget to drink or not realize that they are thirsty. Their medications can also be dehydrating; for example, blood pressure drugs could dry them out even if they drink some water. And vomiting or having diarrhea for more than a day can cause dehydration in Alzheimer’s patients, as it does with anyone else.

Simply saying to them, “drink something” may not help. They may not follow through. If you make it easier for them by handing them a glass, they are more likely to drink. (watch them and remind them to sip it.) Fruit has a lot of water in it, too, so if they don’t want to drink water or juice, offer an orange.

Signs of dehydration in anyone include being more confused or lethargic than usual. The person’s sodium level goes up and confusion results (which also happens when sodium is decreased). But in someone with dementia, this change may be hard to notice. Still, watch for changes relative to how they usually behave. If they seem even more mixed up or lethargic than usual, and if they also feel warm to the touch, alert your doctor. Sometimes people for whom this is a recurrent problem need to have an IV put in temporarily.

Ed Picard, Respite Center Coordinator
Charlie’s Place Respite Center